Actually, to nitpick the hell out of it, in Michigan we don't really consider the Regents, President, etc to be "state employees." They are public employees, but of the University, not the State.

I work for the U and everything associated with my job (the paycheck, the benefits, the policies, etc, the days off) is set by U-M and comes from U-M, not the State of Michigan. Constitutional Autonomy, baby!

They aren't getting involved in college football, any moreso than the Michigan legislature did when it passed a resolution "recognizing" Armando Galarraga's quasi-perfect game. It's just a symbolic statement.

And for those sweating buckets about this taking up too much of the Ohio Senate's time . . . do you have any idea what its daily routine is like? This kind of piddling crap is like 75% of their job.

I'm glad with an incredible budget shortfall in the future that they have all this extra time to bother with this. I would change the date and cite the overwhelming stupidity of the Ohio Senate as the reason. I personally don't want it changed, but I'm not wasting taxpayer dollars grandstanding about it.

Hey. The vote will pass, probably unanimously while each will get a moment to say their piece.

It is interesting that this issue is so important, that elected officials feels a symbolic measure will win them goodwill in the next election cycle.

Even after two decades of one-sided records, that's how important the game is to the electorate.

We'll porbably know tonight for sure that OSU and Michigan are in separate divisions. I think the battle over the date of the game is still winnable.

I look at this as the other schools in the Big Ten (I'm looking at you Penn State, Wisconsin, and MSU) trying to raise their own profiles, at the cost of ours. Unfortunately OSU and Michigan only have two votes.

I don't really see the problem with them introducing a resolution. This isn't going to cost a lot - like the steroid cases - and in all honesty is something that affects millions of people. Part of the governments job is to step in when they see fit for the better of their communities. Look, even he admits that this isn't something that should typically be done, but as long as it isn't wasting substantial taxpayer dollars I truly believe it is something that shapes our communities, be it in Ohio and Michigan, the entire Midwest, or even universally as these universities continue to expand their reach (Space bitches, space).

As Chait's article above suggests, quite a lot was accomplished by the actions of Virginia's governor as the ACC was adding members. Virginia Tech went from being orphaned in the Big East to a member of the ACC largely due to Mark Warner's interventions.

They may actually have to extend the session to bring the debate and vote to the floor on the resolution to require TUOOS to wear matching red lace panties with their new red helmets in November. I think TP is sporting the proposed matching attire already and plans to make a guest appearance. Its simply too important to put off another day.

...and out come the anti-politics folks. Even when they try and do something positive and would solve a problem we have been bemoaning for weeks.

I'm pretty sure the legislature isn't spending a lot of time on this or even debating it. "OK guys set aside that jobs bill, we need to work on The Game for the next few weeks." Go look at the list of bills introduced in the federal government even and you will see lots of "resolution to honor ____." At the state level you will see even more inane stuff that you will never hear about.

Plus, I understand the "OMG stay out!" mentality, but they aren't trying to do something complicated. They aren't trying to make a playoff system or divide conferences. They are trying to keep The Game played at a specific time in the season. The knee jerk reactions are a bit much.

Not anti-politics, "anti-I couldn't get a job at a firm willing to pay me more than $35k so I ran for office and just realized I have to get re-elected to keep my job self-absorbed legend in their own mind politicians." Politicians not like this that pay attention to real government issues are OK in my book.

I think the Ohio State legislature clearly has an interest in the happenings at Ohio State as it is a state-funded institution. Every public university has public relations departments (i.e. lobbyists) that work directly with representatives and senators on a regular basis. And, as such, millions of dollars are granted to the school by the state legislature each year and a piece of that funding finds its way to the athletic department coffers (albeit a small amount). The state therefore has an interest in academics and athletics. That said, these senators probably do have much more important things to deal with in the scheme of things. Although, not being a resident of Ohio, I'm psyched to see this guy stepping up and using his position to voice his concern.

The resolution can't bind the Big Ten to do anything if it passes. But the government represents the people. And if that many people in the state of Ohio are that ticked off about The Game, why not take 20 minutes to pass a resolution and representing the people's voice in THEIR government? Sounds good to me.

You're 100% right. These state representatives do crazy things like this all the time. They all pass ceremonial resolutions and bestow honors and stuff like that regularly. Might as well make good use of these wastes of time. Too bad the resolution isn't binding!